Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program: Accomplishments from the Science Program and User Facility (2008)
The Earth’s surface temperature is determined by the balance between incoming solar radiation and thermal (or infrared) radiation emitted by the Earth back to space. Changes in atmospheric composition, including greenhouse gases, clouds, and aerosols, can alter this balance and produce significant climate change. Global climate models (GCMs) are the primary tool for quantifying future climate change; however, there remain significant uncertainties in the GCM treatment of clouds, aerosols, and their effects on the Earth’s energy balance. The ARM Climate Research Facility has become the standard for ground-based climate research observations while ARM scientists lead the world in research related to the interactions of clouds and radiation. Highlights in this summary illustrate how the ARM Program has achieved specific advances in: measurements of key components of the Earth’s climate system, radiation calculations in climate models, and the representation of clouds in climate models. As this and future work is implemented in more climate models, ARM research will help to reduce uncertainties in climate predictions.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- OSTI ID:
- 1616674
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/SC-ARM/P--08-017
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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